Printing appliance



Oct. 5, 1948.

FIG.

J. P. GowLAND 2,450,656

PRINTING APPLIANCE Filed Aug. 19, 1946 Q "zo nvenlor l Pam/d Attorney Patented ct. 1.94.8

UNITED STATES ATENT ori-ICE v PRINTING APPLIANCE John Pinkney Gowland, Woking, England Application August 19, 1946, Serial No. 691,577

In Great Britain May 4, 1945 This invention provides an improved hand printing appliance which is of simple and inexpensive construction and suitable for miscellaneous printing purposes such as those for which the well-kno-wn hand printing sets have been used hitherto. The appliance of this invention is especially suitable for production as a toy, although the invention is not to be regarded as limited in this respect.

A hand printing appliance in accordance with the invention comprises a baseplate having a printing aperture therein and adapted to rest on a paper or surface to be printed upon, the baseplate having fitted thereon an annular inking pad and a transparent ilexible type disc which is rotatably and detachably mounted on the baseplate and consists oi a transparent thermoplastic material which bears printing characters formed by moulding or embossing the material of the type disc and arranged in an annular row near the periphery of the disc so that the row of characters overlies the printing aperture and the annular inking pad, the upper side of the type disc having the printing characters exhibited as positive intaglio imprints, while the underside of the type disc which constitutes the printing side exhibits the characters in negative relief for printing, the type disc being capable, by reason of its flexibility, of being locally iiexed by finger pressure on a portion thereof bearing a selected character so as to depress such portion IWith respect to the characters on the reminder of the body of the type disc, and thereby cause the character on such depressed portion to enter the aperture in the baseplate for printing on to the surface underlying the baseplate, ther flexibility of the type disc causing such depressed portion to rise and lift the selected character off the printing surface and out of the printing aperture upon the pressure on such portion being released. If desired, the material. of the type disc between adjacent characters may be slit so as to form the disc periphery into flexible tongues each carrying one of the printing characters.

The transparency of the type disc readily enables a character selected for printing, to `be brought by suitable rotation of the type disc into registry `with the printing aperture in readiness for printing by finger pressure thereon as above described. The visib-ility of the printing aperture through the type disc facilitates such registration.

The characters on the type disc are preferably normally out oi contact with the inking pad, but owing again to the flexibility of the disc, the characters may be readily inked by resiliently deiiect- 3 Claims. (Cl. 101-3) ing the type disc to press the characters thereon acters to normal position after printing is obviated, thus contributing to the simplicity and economical production of the appliance.

In printing a line oi characters, such as a word, by means of the appliance, it is laid on the paper or other surface to be printed upon, and the irst character in the line printed in the manner described. The appliance is then moved along the paper or other surface, a distance of one character space, and the next character printed, and so on. In order to facilitate visibility and aligning of the characters as printed, a portion of the baseplate embracing the printing aperture may be made oi transparent material or provided with a transparent mask having the printing aperture therein, so that characters already printed on the underlying'surface may be seen through the window formed by such transparent portion or mask of the baseplate. Such transparent part may be separately made and fixe'd'to the main body of the baseplate which may be made of opaque material, such as metal.y The whole of the baseplate could, however, be made of a suitable transparent material. In a preferred form, the baseplate is made of opaque material such as metal in which a slot is provided, forming a lwindow through which the printed characters can be seen and aligned, one end ofi` the slot serving as or merging into the printing aperture.

To :moisten or re-ink the inking pad, the type disc is detached from the baseplate so that access may be had to the pad, the type disc afterwards being refitted. A convenient and inexpensive form of detachable iixing for the type disc comprises a bifurcated headed fastener having ilexible prongs which are inserted through regis-V tering holes in the disc and baseplate and are bent to secure the type disc in position, and may be straightened to permit the fastener to be withdrawn when it is desired to detach the type disc from the baseplate.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood and readily carried into practice,` a preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which y Fig. 1 is a plan View of the appliance.

Fig. 2 is an underneath view, and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, on van enlarged scale,

eficaces 3 plate I made of any relatively stout material, for example, pressed sheet metal as shown, which may be formed with a peripheral reinforcing bead II, as shown. The baseplate is formed with an upstanding central boss I2 and a concentric annular rib I3 on Which a rotatable type disc I4 rests so as to be spaced above the flat surface of the baseplate. The type disc carries printing characters@ Ilandismade, of an` embossable fleX- ible transparent thermoplastic-sheet material, such as cellulose acetate, Celluloid or like cellulosic plastic, in which the printing characters Iil are -termed by moulding or embossing. the material of the disc I4 directly from an original die or the like, so that on onerzsideathegdisc |14 bears the negative characters projecting therefrom in relief (this side beingv used-fior' printing), While the other side bears positive` intaglio imprints ofthe characters, this side being; placedn uppermost in the appliance thus making it easy and convenientfor the userytoseeA and select the desired characters-tor prin-ting.

The characters I-Y so formed. areshown arranged in an annular rowY on a peripheral margin-,t3 of the type disc $15,. dened by an annular groove Il within the roW-oicharacters I5, but outside the rib t3, the-.groove I'lbeing formed also,.by;moulding or embossing the material of the dise I4. The latter, is alsoshown as having. a` similarly formedI peripheral reinforcing beadl.- lEhe spacingv earlier referred to between the-underside of the type -dise I4 and the surface ot the baseplate Ii) allows for the-projection of the` moulded 0r embosed characters I5 below. theunderside surface ofthe type disc It, asmay b e more clearly seen-in Fig. 3.

At-its vcentre-,fthe Itis-pierced and formedy into a-spigot- IfS .(ig.y 3,) .which tsinto a center hole in thetypedisc I4, locating. the glatter. RestinghontheI type disc M is arretaining disc 2@ or smaller .diameter than the groove I1 but of. sulicientl diameter to retainA the type disc on the rib I3.. Thad-isc 2falsofhas acentreholeinto which thezspigot. i9 extendsto locate: that disc. 'I'he disci?? leaves. visible the character-bearingperipheralmargin. IIS.v ot the'type-disclll,` and does notA interierefwith-.the ilexibility of;y that margin.- The-discsfzld andV 2Q are detachably Xed-'to the baseplate lil by mean-g of a detachable fastener: Whichfis shown asa biurca-ted-fmetalvpin 2l having a head- 22 Whichfrests ontheI disc 29; and pliable prongs ZBYWhichL-are passed through the` spigot vlilas more clearly; seen in Fig.- 3, andthe ends of the prongs 23 are bent over against the underside of thefboss I-2; being accommodated in the-recess 24 forme-d by the boss.`

On the baseplate I--isprovided an annular inking; .pad. 25yconcentric with, the type dise It anddisposed under the peripheral `margin It thereof so that the printing. characters l may belyi-nkedv-by holdingthe type disc Mstationary and run-ning angel. along. the portiorrof they marginl6 Whichis ,over the-pad-25 sof-as .to press the'rjcharacters ron-tl'la't portion down intoV contact` with the inking pad.. By suitablyturning. the type disc i4, the remainderA of thecharacters Ifmaybe similarly inked.- The pady ZBIm'ay-consisi',Y of a` thiny pieceof compressed-cork-.or-` anyy other suitable porous f in-lr-f-retainingr materiali Preferably thevboss I2 and rib I3 =supportthe type disc Hirse-that thefcharacters I5 aregnormally out of contactwi-tlr thepad; :25: (as "shown in Figi 3) since-otherwise they.-Wou\ld continually wipe over therpad'as1the-typedisc Hhisv rotatedjand this would. tend: to causethecharac ters to gather up an excess of ink or to collect it in their recesses which would eventually foul the characters and render frequent cleaning necessary. The inking pad 25 is preferably permanently secured to the baseplate It, for instance by sticking the pad to the baseplate, although the pad may be removably fixed, if desired.

The baseplate IU is further provided with a slotforming aawindovv'Zi,y one end of which is enlarged to forma printing aperture. 21- beneath the margin I6 of the type disc, as shown.

The operation of the appliance is as follows, assuming, for example, that a line of characters, e. g., a word, is to be printed.

Thev appliance is held down with one hand, with its baseplate. l0 resting on the paper or other surface to be printed upon, and after inking the characters in the manner above described, the type dise. I4 is rotated to bring the character selected for printing into position over the aperture 2'1 and thev character is pressed rmly down With a ringer. ThisA causes the margin I6 `to flex. locally in the neighbourhood of the selected character, the groove H serving as Ia hinge assisting suchlocal deflection, whereby the projecting negativereliefunderside of the character is pressed through` the aperture 21 intov contact with the paper or other surface beneath, thereby printing the character thereon. Vihen` the iinger pressure isreleased, the deilected portion of the margin I6 risesby the natural resiliency ci the type disc material, to lift the character away from the underlying paper orother printing surface. The appliance is then slid sideways vone character spaceto theright along vthe printing surface and the described procedure is repeated for the next character, and so on. The Window 2t enables the printed characters on the paper or other printing surface to be kept in View and aligned as the printing proceeds. The transparency of the type dise ltenables the printing aperture 21 and the adjacent part of the Window fiwhich are covered. by the margin Iii-of the type disc to be seenthrough the type disc; thus facilitating registraticnzof'a-selected printing character over the aperture 2'I and also enabling a character or characters already printed' andv appearing in the aforesaid part of thewindow 26covered by the` type disc to be kept in View while printing theneXt character.

The-embodiment described is given by Way of examplefonly, since it will be apparent that many modifications of 'detail may be made. For instance,r instead of forming a window by a slot such as 2Bin'a baseplate of opaque material, that partA of the baseplate may -be made of transparent material (or the Whole :baseplate made transparent) so that the: printed vcharacters can bey seen therethrough, and provided with an opening therein to form the printing aperture, Although it'iis preferredy tov construct' the appliance with metal partsv (other than the type disc), it will beevident that other materials may be used Wheresuitable, such asyvvood, cardboard, plastics, to mention. a few.

The terms, printing characters-A and characters are used hereinffor convenience -to denote4 theprinti'ngmatter carried by the appliance, and accordingly are' tol bei interpretedv inv a general sen-se, :n.s'inclu'ding not only letters, numerals, punctuation andl other ordinary lletterpressy type. characters but also inscriptions, pictures and any other kind' of printing matter. lsc'laimz.

1. Av hand'printing. appliance comprising-.,iaf.

baseplate having a printing aperture formed therein of size suiicient to receive at a time only a single one of the hereinafter mentioned printing characters and having a portion forming a window extending from said aperture to permit characters printed one after another in a line through said aperture on to a surface underlying said baseplate to be Viewed through said window, an embossable printing disc rotatably and detachably mounted at its centre on said baseplate and having a peripheral marginal portion overlying said printing aperture and an adjacent part of said window, at least said marginal portion of said disc being transparent to render said part of said window visible through said disc, said marginal portion bearing an annular row of embossed printing characters which overlies said printing aperture and said characters of which appear in negative relief on the under face of said disc adjacent said baseplate and in positive intaglio in the upper face of said disc, an inking pad on said baseplate beneath said row of printing characters, said disc being supported on said baseplate with said row of characters normally out of contact with the underlying surface of said baseplate, and at least said marginal portion of said disc possessing suflcient inherent resiliency to permit depression of a selected printing character thereon through said printing aperture into position for printing and to automatically return said character to normal inoperative position after depression.

2. A hand printing appliance comprising a baseplate having a substantially flat surfacefa boss and an annular rib concentric with said boss upstanding from said surface with said rib located between said boss and the marginal end portions of the baseplate, a printing aperture formed in said surface located between said boss and a marginal edge portion of the baseplate and of size sucient to receive at a time only a single one of the hereinafter mentioned printing characters, and a slot forming a window extending from said aperture substantially parallel with a marginal edge of said baseplate to form a guide for printing a number of characters in a line and to permit characters printed one after another in a line through said aperture on to a surface underlying said baseplate to be viewed through said window, an embossable printing disc rotatably and detachably mounted at its centre on said boss and resting on said rib with a peripheral marginal portion of said disc between said rib and the disc periphery overlying said printing aperture and an adjacent part of said window, at least said marginal portion of said disc being transparent to render said part of said window visible through said disc, said marginal portion bearing an annular row of embossed printing characters which overlies said printing aperture and said characters of which appear in negative relief on the under face of said disc and in positive intaglio in the upper face of said disc, an inking pad on said surface of said baseplate and located beneath said row of printing characters, said boss and said rib supporting said disc with said row of characters normally out of contact with said surface of said baseplate and with said inkin'g pad, and at least said marginal portion of said disc possessing suiiicient inherent resiliency to permit depression of a selected character thereon through said printing aperture into position for baseplate having a substantially fiat surface, a

boss and an annular rib concentric with said boss upstanding from said surface with said rib located between said boss and the marginal end portions of the baseplate, a printing aperture formed in said surface located between said boss and a marginal edge portion of the baseplate 'and of size sufficient to receive at a time only a single one of the hereinafter mentioned printing characters, and a portion without said rib forming a window extending from said aperture to permit characters printed one after another in a line through said aperture on to a surface underlying said baseplate to be viewed through said window, an embossable transparent flexible printing disc rotatably and detahably mounted at its centre on said boss and resting on said rib, said disc being embossed with an annular concentric groove in its upper face of larger diameter than said rib and defining a peripheral marginal portion between said groove and the disc periphery overlying said printing aperture and an adjacent part of said window, the transparency of said marginal portion rendering said part of said Window visible therethrough, a retaining disc attached at its centre to said boss and resting upon said printing disc and being of diameter smaller than that of said groove but at least as large as that of said rib to retain said printing disc on said rib, said marginal portion of said printing disc bearing an annular row of embossed printing characters which overlies said printing aperture and said characters of which appear in negative relief on the under face of said disc and in positive intaglio in the upper face of said disc,

an inking pad on said surface of said baseplate and located beneath said row of printing characters, said boss and said rib supporting said disc with said row of characters normally out of contact with said surface of said baseplate, said marginal portion of said printing disc possessing sufcient inherent resiliency to permit depression of a selected character thereof through said printing aperture into position for printing and to automatically return said character to normal inoperative position after depression.

JOHN PINKNEY GOWLAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 484,534 Harris Oct. 18, 1892 495.135 Hess Apr. 11, 1893 509,858 Anton Dec. 5, 1893 605,945 Blackmore June 21, 1898 1,084,696 Duncan Jan. 20, 1914 1,100,183 Hohmann June 16, 1914 1,345,653V Wallenstein July 6, 1920 1,399,703 Edwards Dec. 6, 1921 2,425,350 i Schultz Aug. 1'?, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 504,520 France July ,7, 1920 

